Money-holder for mail-boxes.



F. SPENNBR.

MONEY HOLDER FOB MAIL BOXES. urmouxo'n FILED rev. 21. 1008.

919,083; 'Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

. J I 1} fl ill ' I fr wlkagonwe w FRANK SPENNER, OF STAYTON, OREGON.

MONEY-HOLDER FOR MAIL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed November 27, 1908. Serial No. 464,606.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SPENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stayton, in the county of Marion, State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ErIoney-Holders for Mail- Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to attachments for mail boxes, more particularly to boxes employed in the rural free delivery service, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed receptacle adapted to be attached in a mail box to contain money which it is desired to deliver to the carrier for the payment of postage and the like.

*With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved device applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same.

The improved device comprises a receptacle 10, of any suitable material, but preferably of sheet metal and formed with an inclined bottom 11 and open at the front. The receptacle is designed to be riveted or otherwise secured to a mail box, a portion of Which is represented at 12, in convenient position for ready access by the carrier.

Extending through the sides of the receptacle near the front upper corners is a shaft or rod 13 having an operating handle or lever arm 14 at one end. Fitting Within the 0 on front of the receptacle 10 is a movable closure 15 rigidly united at 16 to the rod 13, so that When the lever arm 14 is operated the closure 15 Will be moved With the rod, and thus open and close the front of the receptacle. Surrounding the rod 13 is a spring 17 connected at one end to the closure 15 at 18 and With the other end engaging over the upper edge of one of the side members of the receptacle at 19, the spring thus exerting its force to maintain the closure yieldably in closed position.

l Vith a device thus described it will be obvious that money deposited Within the receptacle will folloW the inclined bottom 11 and rest against the lower portion of the closure 15. When the carrier desires to remove the money he simply holds the palm of his hand beneath the receptacle and pushes with his thumb against the arm 14, which action Will open the closure 15 and permit the money to drop into his hand, and When his hand is removed the spring 17 will immediately restore the closure to its former position. Thus the carrier can readily remove the money, and in cold Weather need not remove his glove or mitten to actuate the device.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and of any required size and of any required material, and may be readily attached to any form or size of mail box or other supporting structure.

\Vhat is claimed, is

In a device of the class described, a receptacle including spaced sides and an inclined bottom and open at the front, a rod extending through said spaced sides and provided With an operating lever arm, a closure for the open front, means for ri idly connecting said closure to said rod, an a spring coiled around said rod and connected at one terminal to said closure and with the other terminal formed into a hook and bearing over one of the spaced sides of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

F RANK SPENNER.

Witnesses M. G. SPANIoL, LEE KERBER- 

